Life before the war
Ronald was the second son of Alfred & Jessie Gabrielle Dashwood (nee Phillimore). Born on the Isle of Wight in 1894, by 1901 Ronald was living with his family at “Freiston”, Hulse Road, Banister Park, Southampton. They were a large family, Alfred, Jessie, Evelyn (13), Helen (11), Gerald (8) and Ronald aged 6. The family also employed 2 servants, Rose Chiverton & Alice Pocock. Alfred, aged 43 in 1901, was a solicitor.

The 1911 census shows Ronald at boarding school in Ramsgate, Kent. He attended St. Lawrence College, which had a strong emphasis on the Christian faith. The school is still educating pupils today, both boarding and day students.

Military Service
Ronald arrived in France on 14th November 1915 serving in the Rifle Brigade. He was killed in action 11th months later on 7th Octobe, 1916 and is buried in Bancourt British Cemetery (Grave Reference VI.D.15). The cemetery is in the Pas de Calais and contains 2480 graves and dedications to casualties of World War I, 1462 of which are unidentified burials. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Ronald’s death was noted in the Isle of Wight Mercury “Second Lieutenant Dashwood was shot by a sniper on 7th October 1916 whilst leading his men in a charge against the enemy. Lieutenant Dashwood is the son of Mr. A. Dashwood, the Registrar of Southampton County Court”.